I received an absentee ballot application from...

[Buckeye_Democrat]

... a group called "Center For Voter Information".

I was excited to see the application, but then saw the name of the group and immediately felt skeptical! It's not from Ohio, after all, like my previous applications that usually arrive around Labor Day!

I Google-searched the group, which put my mind at ease.

Not only that, but one of the letters included in the envelope is definitely the official absentee ballot application from Ohio, and the envelope included is addressed to my local board of elections.

So it's all cool! I'll fill out the form and mail it right away!

I'm extra-skeptical about this kind of stuff because of the Republican history of trying to ratfuck us during elections, but I appreciate this particular group! My printer at home doesn't work or I would've printed the absentee application already.

[rogue emissary]

1. I received one in Va yesterday.

Haven't had a chance to check it out.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. Same group?

Nothing gets sent to them, so that eased my mind.

I recognize the application for Ohio because I was ready to print the form from Ohio a couple weeks ago, but then learned the printer was no longer working. Then I figured that I'd just wait for the form to arrive from Ohio automatically around Labor Day, rather then expose myself to others for a printer.

[rogue emissary]

3. Yeap, same group but the return address appears to be in my county.

[Alliepoo]

5. Just googled them.

It says they’re a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps to get info to people to vote or register to vote. I’d never heard of them before. You’re right to be cautious here in Ohio because the pukes are really on it when it comes to sending lies by mail.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

6. The absentee ballot application is legitimate and...

... the name and address of the local board of elections, on the included envelope, is correct too.

Nothing gets sent to that group, thankfully. There's NO WAY that I'd send the application to some group other than the local BOE.

[True Blue American]

8. You got that right

But I have to wonder how they got the forms.

[True Blue American]

7. I called my local BOE

To get my form. I honestly would be concerned about another group. It is simple to get one from your County BOE. As a former poll worker that bothers me that a private group would do that.

They have bar codes.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. Good input! Now I won't use it!

I didn't consider the bar codes and how they could be individualized for some kind of verification!

This is partly why I created this thread, hoping for this kind of feedback or more information!

Edit: Except people can also print out the forms themselves and then mail them in. Nevertheless, I'm probably not going to use the form they sent me now!

Edit2: There's no bar code. Are you thinking of the actual absentee ballot? This is just an application to get the ballot. Ohio makes us fill out an application to get the absentee ballot. The ballot forms indeed have a barcode.

[True Blue American]

10. Yes

I really would not put my trust in anyone but the BOE I saw too much from Republicans when I worked the Polls.

Call me cautious if you wish. I worked with the BOE and know how hard they work to get an honest election. I was also lucky enough to work with an honest Republican Judge who challenged them.

[woodsprite]

4. Good you checked though

I certainly wouldn’t put anything past them.

[rogue emissary]

11. ***update*** Found this message posted on the splash screen of my county election board.

PLEASE READ:

Re: Vote by Mail Application Mailing

Recently, we have received numerous phone calls and complaints regarding a mailing from The Center for Voter Information. While this is a legitimate “Third Party” organization, they are in no way affiliated with our local office, or the Virginia Department of Elections.

If you have received one of these letters with a Virginia Vote by Mail Application Form, you can use it to apply to have a ballot mailed to you (we will begin mailing ballots in mid-September).

If you do not want to vote by mail, ignore the application you have received.

https://www.pwcvotes.org/

[Buckeye_Democrat]

12. Thank you!

They sent me the exact same absentee ballot application that I could have printed from Ohio's official online form. (If my printer at home worked, or I had any desire to print the form at a local library or wherever.) And the included envelope is properly addressed to my local Board of Elections.

No way that I'd trust an actual ballot from a 3rd party, of course.

[rogue emissary]

13. Yeah, I already applied and was worried if I sent this in it my constitute fraud.